Hong Kong Marathon 2026 Starts Today, Attracting 74,000 Runners from Home and Abroad

The Hong Kong Marathon 2026 was held today (January 18th), with Chief Executive Mr. John Lee officiating as a guest of honor at the start of the full marathon race at 6:00 am. The full marathon race started on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, with runners crossing the harbor via the Western Harbour Crossing and finishing at Victoria Park on Hong Kong Island, a distance of approximately 42 kilometers.

The Chief Executive, Mr. John Lee officiated as a guest of honor at the start of the full marathon race. Photo source: FB of Mr. John Lee

Mr. John Lee stated on his social media that the Hong Kong Marathon, as one of the most popular running events in Hong Kong, has been awarded "M" Mark status by the Major Sports Events Committee. For many years, it has attracted running enthusiasts from around the world to compete with each other in such a unique cityscape and consolidated Hong Kong's status as a centre for major international sports events. He stated that the HKSAR Government will continue to actively promote the elite, mega event-oriented, professional, industrialized, and popularized development of sports, as well as organize diverse sports and recreation activities to encourage citizens to develop regular exercise habits.

The honored guests cheered on the runners of the Hong Kong Marathon. Photo source: FB of Mr. John Lee

Mr. John Lee also mentioned that according to the Hong Kong Observatory's weather forecast, the weather will be generally sunny, warm, and dry during the day, providing runners with a comfortable environment. He wished all the athletes the best of luck to enjoy a smooth race and achieve excellent results.

The Hong Kong Marathon 2026 starts today. Photo by Bastille Post

Miss Rosanna Law, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, also attended the start ceremony of the marathon.

Runners from home and abroad participated in this mega sports event. Photo by Bastille Post

The organizing committee stated that the 2026 marathon will continue to have 74,000 runner slots, with overseas or non-local runners coming from 110 countries or regions, accounting for 25%, an increase of approximately over 20% compared to last year.

Runners arrived at the marathon finish line successively. Photo by Bastille Post

WASHINGTON (AP) — An appeals court on Thursday upheld a block on President Donald Trump’s executive order limiting mail voting, a decision that comes as the Supreme Court considers the same case and states have already started sending out ballots for the high-stakes midterm elections.

The three-judge panel refused to lift a preliminary injunction against the order issued last week by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani. It prohibits the U.S. Postal Service from implementing Trump’s directive. The Postal Service has said it would not deliver ballots from states that did not pre-clear their envelope design with the federal government and submit a list of voters to an online portal, which has yet to be activated.

Election officials warn that it’s impossible to comply with those terms, especially with the first mail ballots arleady being sent out in Alabama, North Carolina and Wisconsin.

The panel of three judges nominated by former President Joe Biden agreed with the plaintiffs that the president does not have the power to regulate states’ election policy.

“Appellants have not made a strong showing that the district court erred in determining that the Final Rule is likely unlawful,” they wrote, a reference to a rule published by the Postal Service to implement Trump’s order.

The panel wrote that the Trump administration had done little to dispel arguments by many election officials that the changes would bring “chaos and widespread disenfranchisement.”

“Indeed, appellants have not even seriously challenged this aspect of the district court’s ruling, much less demonstrated why it is clearly erroneous,” the order states.

The government also hasn’t shown evidence of past fraud to justify the restrictions, the judges said.

A request for comment from the White House was not immediately returned.

The panel’s decision comes even as the Supreme Court is already considering the same case, which is part of a frenzied legal rush as states are beginning to send out mail ballots for this fall’s midterm elections. Democrats and civil rights groups in a separate lawsuit in Washington, D.C., also are trying to halt the executive order.

The 1st Circuit also had upheld a previous hold Talwani placed on the executive order. But that ruling was lifted by the Supreme Court in a procedural decision that did not determine whether the plan was constitutional.

The plaintiffs swiftly filed new lawsuits after the Postal Service finalized its rule governing mail ballots.

Wake County Board of Elections employees prepare absentee ballots to be mailed on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Ramey)

President Donald Trump speaks at the Republican convention, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

FILE - Vote-by-mail ballots for the presidential primary election are seen on March 12, 2024, at the Clark County Elections Office in Vancouver, Wash. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)